The ride to Ryslen was short and though the packing was long, that was where Quachir told the sisters that there was to be a meeting in a short time to discuss the new Weyr they would be searching for prospective Weyrfolk and cavern works for, possibly a few riders as well. This was also a meeting that they were to discuss the naming of the new Weyr which would open near the end of fall two turns from then.

Mekoth, Quachir’s golden queen, had quite a nice glide yet she didn’t like Sadel or her sister at all. According to Quachir, Mekoth didn’t like females and greens over some odd fear that one would try to impress her and the other her rider. Sadel thought that was a silly thing, you couldn’t impress a dragon when you already had one and person couldn’t impress to a dragon who has already done so. But then it was the dragon’s choose to think this and she couldn’t stop it even if she wanted to.

As the trio left the dragon Sadel graciously thanked Mekoth who snorted in reply before taking off again sending the white stuff that was snow flying about them. The huge gold decided then to lay among the other dragons high above on the Weyrbowl, even if it was snowing out.

The snow amazed Sadel though she wasn’t able to enjoy it too long. According to her cousin they were already late for the meeting. With some navigational problems they finally reached the lower caverns in Ryslen Weyr. There sat nearly twenty riders waiting for their one and only queen rider. All their faces were new and unjudging. Wait… that guy at the table looks familiar… Where have I seen his face before? Sadel pondered but was quickly pulled out of it as Quachir sheepishly reported why she was late.

“Well, it took a bit longer than I thought but we’re here,” Quachir stated with a sheepish soft smile, “Everyone I’d like you to meet my cousins, Koora and Sadel.” Sadel noticed her sister’s look of curiosity while she herself contained her serious look as she felt herself being evaluated for some reason. Sadel almost didn’t catch the moment of the familiar rider… almost.

CRASH!!!

“Sah-Sadel?” the rider asked and then it hit her. This man she’d met nearly five turns earlier when she had long enough hair to tie into two runner tails that hung limply, one on each side of her head. A suggestion he’d made right before he left caused her to cut her hair as short as it was. He’d been her very good friend for about two sevendays while the caravan he was with was bartering at the Hold one turn, and Sadel had never told anybody about it, not even Koora. When the same caravan returned next she’d found that he was nowhere among them and at the time she’d been too shy to ask where he’d gotten off to. It took a lot of her inner strength to keep from running over to him to see if he was alright, she didn’t want to show weakness in the first meeting of many riders yet her eye twitched up and it was obvious she was concerned for the young man.

“Arawen is that you?” Sadel asked in an obviously startled tone of voice. She ignored the stares she was getting from her sister and cousin yet waited for the answer.

“Uh, yeah,” he replied still a bit surprised by her appearing before him once again as well as being Quachir’s cousin, “It’s Ar’wen now though, blue Camoth’s rider.” Sadel nodded and quickly put on her serious face again before taking a chair that was open, it just so happened to be to the right and slightly behind Ar’wen and a woman who seemed to scowl at the blue rider for some reason. Is she his weyrmate? she wondered as Koora took a seat next to her.

“Well, let’s get this thing started” Chir stated in a business like way that was familiar to Sadel, “I filled in Koora and Sadel on the way. As you know I was only getting Koora but instead I ended up with both my cousins. They’ll be staking out Ryslen here. Everyone is clear on what’s happening here right?”

“We’re looking for more riders,” Ar’wen replied for the group and a number of the riders nodded their heads in agreement.

“You think one of us should stay with them too?” a female rider asked suddenly.

“We can handle it just fine,” Sadel replied calmly at the same time as her sister bit the words off at the woman.

“Lusec’s right,” another rider, this one male, agreed and received glares from both sisters this time, “No offence to your cousins, but there should be a rider or two here to in case it’s people we offer to instead of dragonriders.” He’s got a point. Sadel mused while Koora seemed to fume a bit still.

“You have a valid point there, A’kito,” Quachir replied after thinking it over a bit for herself and quickly eyed her peers, “I’ll take volunteers after the meeting, I’m sure there may a be a few of you who want to do it but don’t want to make your ideas known to the crowd. Now more current matters that may apply to this, Tiyanni’s wanting to talk to our white riders about something, she didn’t make it quite clear, though I expect that it will cause the rider to be here for a few months at least.”

Upon the last statement everybody turned to the rider next to Ar’wen. The woman’s eyes darted to all of the riders and she hmfed. So she rides white, that’s a bit of a surprise, Sadel thought as she stared at the woman. Next to her, Koora nudged her.

“Be nice, Del,” she whispered, “You’re acting so serious that you look angry at the world right now.” Sadel blinked at her sister’s comment and tired to soften her looks slightly. Koora nodded in approval and the meeting went on. Nearly two hours had gone by when the meeting was finally coming to an end.

“Well that’s the last of it,” Quachir sighed and everyone started to move to get some food.

“Quachir, I have a little thing that I’ve been contemplating for a long time about our Weyr, may I put it before everyone while most of us are gathered?” one rider, who was female asked.

“Go ahead, Yui, I trust that what you want to speak of won’t really take that long,” Quachir smiled at the young woman.

“I don’t think it should,” Yui replied and shrugged, “I’ve been asked since we were found out what our Weyr will be named many times now… and I’m sure I’m not the only one… I know we have two turns till the opening but I’m get tired of saying I don’t know when they ask. Do you think we could possibly name the Weyr?” There were murmurs of agreement among the riders and Sadel scanned their features. Her brown-gray eyes finally rested on Ar’wen who seemed unmoved though his eyes watched his weyrwoman for what she would do to this request.

“I’ve been thinking about that myself but before you hear my idea I’d like to hear any of yours,” she replied. That’s what Sadel respected about her cousin and sometimes tried to be like, her cousin wanted people to be happy and she would not force something upon people often. She liked to hear other’s ideas and sometimes elaborate on them, Quachir was made to be a Senior Weyrwoman.

“How about Night Wing Weyr.”

“Sear Weyr!”

“Now that’s just silly, V’sec… how’s this sound, Helix Weyr?”

“Lusec, you joker that’s way too odd… Flying Dragon Weyr, because of the Weyrbowl shape!”

Suggestions flew from all the riders, even Koora had an idea that she shouted out. Sadel stayed quiet. From what her cousin had told her the Weyrbowl of the Weyr was shaped like a dragon with the Weyrlake being the majority of the wing. Logically the Weyr should be named after that interesting shape, she was about to shout out her own idea of Dragon Water Weyr when she saw a small glint in Quachir’s eye. She has something and she knows they’ll go for it, Sadel thought and chuckled before settling into her seat.

“Well this is a surprise, you actually seem to look smug instead of serious,” Ar’wen chuckled to her as he glanced back at her for a moment before turning back to Quachir as all conversation died down. Sadel was only too glad he turned when he did. The former scribe could feel her face flushing, luckily for her Koora didn’t notice.

“I think they’re all great ideas, my friends,” Quachir replied, “But tell me what you think of mine… Seiryuu Weyr?”

There was a rumble that went through the riders at the odd sounding name. Sadel cocked her head at her cousin, there was something behind this and she was very curious to know what. It seemed that the riders were also just as curious as one of the men spoke up.

“Interesting name, Chir, but what’s it mean?”

“Well, N’tron,” she smiled, “I’ll tell you how I came to find this name, the short version that is. Yesterday I was thinking the same thing as Yui, we have to have a name for this Weyr soon. So I decided I’d go to AIVAS and see what I could come up with that might match the Weyr itself.”

“I described the Weyr to the machine and it started throwing names at me from old terra. When I mentioned the Weyrbowl reminded me of a blue dragon it gave me the name Seiryuu. It told me that Seiryuu was a blue dragon who guarded the East in an Eastern country in one of the large continents, I believe it called it Asia. I thought the name might be right, for one, our Weyr is in the far east, for another, the Weyr looks like a blue dragon… and another I thought might not be as obvious, it seems those who are going to be coming to our Weyr when it’s up and running the majority are blue riders.” Conversations started flowing from all riders and Ar’wen seemed to be beaming as Sadel snuck a glance at him.

It was obvious to Sadel by the conversations that spread around her who was a blue rider. They were fairly for the name. The others were a bit iffy but seemed to like the idea as well. As the conversation started to die down Ar’wen stood up.

“I second Quachir’s name for our Weyr as being Seiryuu Weyr,” he stated firmly, “Who’s with me?” A cheer went up from all the riders and Quachir blushed. Sadel had relaxed some through the meeting and now beamed at her cousin’s idea.

“Then it’s decided,” he smirked, “We are the riders of Seiryuu Weyr now!” Quachir eyed him and he sat down.

“As Ar’wen said, we will be the riders of Seiryuu Weyr,” she smiled, “And as such, we shall now end this meeting of Seiryuu Weyr.” Another cheer went up from the riders that Sadel joined in on happily before stumbling slightly when Ar’wen, for some reason, winked at her. A few of the riders made their way to the kitchens to tell the works that they were ready to be fed.

“You two seem to act like weyrmates,” Sadel told Ar’wen bluntly as he turned his attention to her as the one known as the woman walked off to find Weyrwoman Tiyanni. Ar’wen blinked and looked over his shoulder at the white rider and then back at Sadel.

“Faranth, no!” Ar’wen growled with a shutter, “Far from it, Kare doesn’t like me very well at all. I’m lucky she didn’t try hurting me in some way. Her dragon’s proddy right now, other wise she’d be alright to being around, but right now? Eeeesh, no way!” Sadel chuckled and in the back of her mind she relaxed some thought she couldn’t quite place why. “Aside from that she’s weyrmated to V’nor and her white Oroth to the blue Sovreth.”

“That’s right, you said you had a blue dragon now,” Sadel replied and frowned as she tried to think of the name, “Camoth right? How long has this been? Where’d you impress? And what’s he like?” Yes; Nearly seven turns back; Fort Weyr; and largest blue on Pern as well as the most handsomest one. a smooth voice rumbled through Sadel’s head causing her to jump back. The voice had sounded something like Ar’wen’s but deeper. Ar’wen chuckled and patted the young woman’s hand.

“I believe Camoth did a fairly good job of answering you, hm?” the blue rider asked her cockily. Sadel couldn’t help but chuckle and nod in agreement. The blue had done quite a job of answering her. The nineteen turn old and the twenty-three turn old talked on for a time longer until Sadel decided that she should go to bed. As she was going she noticed the blue rider was well and deeply drunk. What happened next Sadel recorded in her journal.

I have arrived at Ryslen Weyr with my cousin, Quachir, and my sister, Koora, and surprisingly found an old friend among the riders there. Ar’wen is more handsome than I remember and still the joker, he doesn’t seem as sad as he did when I met him those eight turns ago when he was still known as Arawen. He however has a taste for drinking it seems, either that or it was the fact that we were celebrating the naming of my cousin’s Weyr. It is to be called Seiryuu Weyr after a deity that protected the East, a blue dragon to be exact, as this Weyr will do once it is officially instated in two turns from now. Ar’wen riders a blue by the name of Camoth, who claims to be quite large. Yes, the blue decided to talk to me for a moment, if only to answer my questions I asked towards his rider. Camoth’s voice is quite soothing, I should say, if a bit cocky. But then as the old saying goes “Like rider, like dragon.” Or is it “Like dragon, like rider?” Either way, the two were made for each other. About an hour after the party was under way I got my first glimpse of Ryslen’s Weyrwoman, Tiyanni. She seems to be getting on in turns and I wouldn’t be surprised if she were to step down from being the Senior Weyrwoman soon though. She seemed quite the kind soul to me, despite the annoyed look my sister gave her upon hearing she was a queen rider. Koora’s scowl grew deeper when she was told the woman was head of the Weyr. I was leaving when Tiyanni announced that there would be whites flying at the Weyr in a month or so and she was going to call it a Flurry Flight. As she was saying this next to Ar’wen and myself my friend decided to suggest that the whites only be flown by other whites to possibly cause an all white clutch to be hatched on the sands. Tiyanni seemed to like the idea and proclaimed it just before the disaster occurred to the blue rider. For some reason Kare, white Oroth’s rider, came up behind him smacking him hard on the back of his head causing him to upset his drink into his lap. It was revealed to me later that the reason she’d done so was because she was the rider of the only white signed up for the clutch at this moment. It is obvious that she’s not happy with the idea, and who would be when being weyrmated to one you loved for the past four turns. Well, Whisper is growing quiet so I should be doing so myself. If I don’t soon he’ll be wide awake again and causing a ruckus as is common for the young flit. Until I write again. -Sadel, apprentice Scribe of Ista Hold Resident of Ryslen Weyr

It was nearly three months later when the Flurry was flown and the eggs were on the hatching grounds. Like a number of the residents of Ryslen, Sadel helped in making sure the eggs were all right tried to get an exact count them. Fourty-two was what most came up with every day that paseed candidates for the clutch were coming in. As the dames of the clutch decided it was time to change shifts a large whitish queen came in vocally demanding all helpers off the sands and started to order the dragons around. Sadel was quick to follow the command only looking back once to see movement by the entrance from the Weyrbowl to the hatching grounds. Her sister stood there watching the dragons and she could just imagine her sister was glowering at the queen’s act.

Sadel was quickly called to the kitchens then so she didn’t even see what came up behind her sister moments later. It was only a minor thing she had to do get a few things set out for a meal later that day and then she could go. As she was filling a water pitcher though she suddenly found gloved hands covering her eyes.

“Guess who,” a voice snickered at her. Sadel frowned though her mind turned on a playful wickidness as she was sure she knew who it was.

“Hmm, let’s see I believe it is, Ar’wen!” with a growl she turned quickly and caught the blue rider by the neck causing him to jump back into a wall with her and still grasping his neck.

“Whoa, what was that for?” he asked, startled, though he seemed to chuckle at it as well.

“You tried to surprise me so I thought it was my turn to surprise you,” Sadel smiled innocently, though it took on a devilish smirk.

“Feisty today, aren’t you, Del?” Ar’wen chuckled as she finally let him go to finish up her small chore. His husky chuckle continued causing Sadel to shiver slightly, but in a good way. She could sense that he was very close to her at that moment, and a shiver went up and down her spine at that. The young woman jumped ,though, as her brown fire lizard Whisper chittered, coming into the kitchen with all speed. Happily giving off pictures of what he’d been doing. You sometimes just make the wrong decision to come see me, Whisper! she thought harshly though her features didn’t change as she lifted her upper arm for the brown to land on before making his way to his usual perch around her neck.

“I don’t remember this being a part of you before,” Ar’wen immediately mocked her with a sparkle in his eye. Sadel turned with the water in hand and eyed the blue rider who backed off, knowing that the girl’s temper could rear up and use the stuff as a weapon.

“I had him stay with Chir’s fair during the meeting,” she replied curtly, “I’ve had Whisper for nearly four turns now.”

“Hmm, he doesn’t seem to be a whisper,” Ar’wen commented poking the brown who squawked at him at the same time as Sadel threatened with the water, “It was just an observation, you don’t need to take it personally, Del. Come on, I heard about something I want to show you.”

“Ar’wen, I’ve got duties to attend here,” Sadel reminded him testily. Ar’wen made a pity face at her with a long sad frown upon his handsome features. Sadel sighed, rolling her eyes and shaking her head, “Look, just have the patience to wait about five to ten minutes and I’ll be ready… It will go quicker if you help too, you know?” Ar’wen immediately disappeared causing the former istan to chuckle mentally, Trust a man to run when there’s work to be done. Even if it will help them get to something faster. Sadel sighed continued on with the work she’d been assigned.